A Man.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., wrote, "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

I would like to share something written by Richard Jones. I think it should provide some insight to some of the challenges we face in our lives today.

Alas, our society is one in which a man is far more frequently measured by his looks, job, status symbols, gift-giving, sex appeal, or tough-guy exterior. ....people are all too inclined to look on the outward appearance when trying to decide what manner of man someone is. Consequently, it is nearly always the case that little more is expected of a man than that he has "good" looks, a "good" wardrobe, a "good" job, some or all of the most fashionable material "goods," and that he is a "good" provider, a "good" sex partner, a "good" fighter, or just able to show a woman a "good" time. It is long after a man has been judged on the basis of such 'cryteria' that serious consideration (usually too little too late) is given to whether his inner man is as good as his public image.

Few people are wise and patient enough to measure a man by "where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." Most people are content to see that a man is "cool" merely when he is self-indulged and self-satisfied. Even women seeking male partners do little or nothing to learn how a man might hold up under the weltering heat of adversity. Despite the problems and perils of having a fair-weather friend or fair-weather "lover," most of a man's so-called friends and lovers will have forged relationships with him without tarrying to observe his character while he is enduring trials and tribulations.

Regardless, the most important things about a man are revealed by how he conducts himself when he is displeased, distraught, or distressed. It is easy for a man to get along with others and project strength of character when he thinks the going is good. It is easy for him to have a great attitude when he thinks life, kith, and kin are treating him well. It is easy for him to be Mr. Right when he does not perceive that there is anything wrong (with him!). And it is easy to allow ourselves to think that favorable circumstances is the best light under which to see a man for who he is. But a man who is always at his worst during the worst of times doth not a good man make. A man at his best gives the best of himself even during the most trying times of his life - even when he is suffering and struggling with the issues of life. A good man, that is, brings forth good things from the good treasure of his heart regardless of the situation.

Such is not common sense. Most people believe that hard times are excuses for exhibiting character flaws and weaknesses rather than opportunities to (show that one has) overcome them. Besides, the logic continues, no one is perfect, so it is only realistic and far more likely that a man will "not be himself" under the stress and strain of difficult and demanding situations. So a man's acting "out of character" is constantly overlooked and forgiven inspite of the other lives he wounds and wrecks. He is a "good man," they say, even though he can be counted on to make poor decisions when he is under pressure or just downright peeved.

...For most men in our society this is a revolutionary approach to conflict resolution and character recognition, especially since it demands of each of us a thorough and ongoing reassessment of our sense of self. We grew up thinking that a "real" man does not take any stuff and gets his way by almost any means necessary. We also grew up thinking that the more imposing, intimidating, impervious, and independent we are, the more people, especially women and children, would think of us as "the man." However, a man who can only resort to aggression is not any more resourceful and redoubtable than an insecure ignoramus who attempts to use vituperation to cloak his vacuity and limited vocabulary. That a man must coerce others into letting him have his way does not mean he is strong. It means that he is too weak and insecure to meet them on the level playing field of equality and mutual respect.

... open our eyes to the realization that true men of stature are strong enough in mind and spirit and secure enough in ourselves to be compassionate and considerate of others even in the midst of confusion, crises, and the crucible of unrequited love; to admit and amend our own faults as well as forgive others; to repay evil with good; to be insulted but insult not; to be angry and yet sin not; to dialog rather than dictate; to be deep enough to delight in diversity and enlightened enough to live and let live.

...Adopting such an approach to dealing with adversity, a man distinguishes himself from the great mass and majority of misguided males who believe kindness is a weakness. He joins the company of courageous men from around the world who are no longer fearful of being friendly and fair through thick and thin.

Well, you get the point. Too long to put it all. Otherwise, nobody will read. [I think I need to start selling fish in the market to encourage all of you to read Haha.]

3rd Day and still good.

Third day today. Not bad. Still going on strong. Maybe because am soo busy with the work. The negotiations is at a stage where we are still accelerating fast into a blind corner. I am not sure what's around the corner. Its like driving blind. I think we definitely speak different languages. And the translator is not every good. I think the client is ecpecting something different.

"Jump!"
"How high?"

That is what they are expecting. While we go something like this...

"Jump!"
"Why?"
"Just jump!"
"I need you to provide me some context. Why do you need me to jump?"
"Hey. I said jump. You are annoying me now"
"Wait a minute. I asked you why. You never give me an answer. Can I know if you want the whole team to jump or just me? What about your guys? They jumping too? Jump up on the same spot or jump of the cliff? Either way, you need to provide me some context. Tell me your objecive. I need to understand if jumping will actually resolve the issues that you face at hand. Once I determine that, I can recommend how high or how far I should jump and whether the other guys, including your team needs to jump too. So help me out herelah"
"Just shut the fuck up and jump. Don't play silly bugger with me son. I just feel like asking you to jump! Why can't you understand me?"
"Fuck you you bastard. I think you should jump. Not me. I got a contract. You have not even been confirmed in your employment as you just joined them last month."

Then a fist fight begins. And we both involuntarily fall of the fucking cliff.

What a scenario eh? [I invented the conversation above, naturally. Its not real - just in case some of you did not eat enough fish today].

I was giggling when writing the shit above. I am here waiting for them to come to a meeting and was told that they are waiting for me. So we are both waiting. Its just that they are waiting at their office, I am waiting at their other office. What a communication breakdown! Best consultant? Podah.

As I am writing this, I just realized its Friday. Thank God for that. I need some rest this weekend. So guys, anyone interested to buka puasa out of town? But you must puasa laaaaaa. I bet you 3/4 of you not fasting. Can we take an anonymous count please? How many of you puasa. Pixie sure tak punye. What for she is asking right now. Well, you go figure lah.

Today, I am supposed to have a leaving do with my old [indirect] boss at Bangsar. So if you see us in Bangsar, you know what its about. I am not sure if Zed's coming. Actually I am not sure if the client is coming given the invitation list - plus the fact that the leaving do is at a pub during the fasting month! Geeeeeeeez.

How is it going guys?

Are we going to buka together today? Its a month of fasting. Its a time to reflect on our mistakes, forgive, forget, 0-0,get closer to God and repent. Oh, don't forget about making those hotel bookings for break of fast too!

New Character - No need to redefine

He-Man. Master of the gym universe. Body like someone who played rugby from the tender age of 2. Lucky got no cauliflower ear. From far like "macam" chinese gangster. Dekat macam.. er.. well.. dunno lah. Only you girls can comment. Drinks JD and all those things neat. Overall nice guy. Used to dream about "whats wrong with your astro?". Just like someone I know. Hahahaha.

Geeez!!!

No more link to this site? Hmm...

Que Sera, Sera

When I was just a little boy,
I asked my mother, "What will I be?
Will I be handsome? Will I be rich?"
Here's what she said to me:

Que sera, sera,
Whatever will be, will be.
The future's not ours to see,
Que sera, sera,
What will be, will be.

When I was just a child in school,
I asked my teacher, "What shall I try?
Should I paint pictures?
Should I sing songs?"
This was her wise reply:

Que sera, sera,
Whatever will be, will be.
The future's not ours to see,
Que sera, sera,
What will be, will be.

When I grew up and fell in love,
I asked my lover, "What lies ahead?
Will we have rainbows day after day?"
Here's what my lover said:

Que sera, sera,
Whatever will be, will be.
The future's not ours to see,
Que sera, sera,
What will be, will be.

Now I have children of my own,
They ask their daddy, "What will I be?
Will I be pretty/handsome? Will I be rich?"
I tell them tenderly:

Que sera, sera,
Whatever will be, will be.
The future's not ours to see,
Que sera, sera,
What will be, will be.

Glad you read the message. That was all I wanted to say. The poem above does not mean much apart from the chorus...

The ZED Parteh!

What? When? Who? Where???

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Pixie has AIDS?

I understand from yesterday's conversation that Pixie has AIDS. I would like to apologize to her for all the wrongdoings I have done to her specifically and to her lesbian partner whom I am not yet sure if she has caught the same disease at this point. Please go visit her if you can. If nobody is at home, you can visit her at Catwoman's house, where she has been sleeping for fear of ghosts.

Come to think of it, they both can see ghosts! Oh, maybe, you know what they say, a thief can always identify another [if there is such a saying]. In a way, one hantu can always identify another.

But thanks to both hantus for buying dinner last night. Very thoughtful and believe me, it was definitely a surprise. When Superwoman smsed me yesterday, I honestly thought it was a typo! Butterfly... did you see any hantu in your apartment last night? Or, if anyone has a good ghost story, please feel free to share. Its going to be HANTU week at KWSP.

Oh btw, by AIDS, I meant Astro and Internet Deficiency Syndrome. All the best guys. [Heh]

Bloody hell. My Bad.

I just cannot beleive how much I cannot remember those two nights of partying. Geez. Sorry if I said something that I should not have or the fact that I could not even remember Butterfly being there!! Holy Doley!

Some characters - Redefined

Butterfly - That will never take off except in a plane. Allegedly classy when sober. Extremely horny when not. Blimey! Self proclaimed second wife to Mr. Et alii. The "I'm not well!" lady - if you like.

Some characters - Redefined

Catwoman - Some characters just cannot be defined - at least politely. This is one gem of an example. Nothing to add except that she probably had protein malnutrition when she was a baby.

3 Day Birthday Bash - Day 1

Part 3

Ok. I have to admit, I really enjoyed this session. It was good. Bottle opened, people had fun. Zed and Poison were getting it on but I really malas to describe here. Maybe I will have a sidebar discussion about that. Not today.

Am actually quite tired but will continue and give a bried summary of what happened instead lah.

Butterfly was not there that night. She does not sing. Too low class kot. [Heh] Anyway, we sang away till the wee morning and then left for Pull Tea at 4am. This was where everyone realized what a small world we live in - Everyone seemed to have some sort of crazy story from Ipoh or thereabouts. This included, talking about my school where many baseless, one sided allegations were thrown on the table. I would like to point out that the world is really jealous about the school. If it was not a threat, then people will not try to put it down kan? Really pity some of you lah. I have no further comment apart from just look around you (well i guess it depends who you hang out with), you will understand. That school produces future leaders and industry captains. Not sure if its the same where you were educated.... [salvo #1]

But thanks to Zed for the coffee and maggie and maggie and maggie and maggie and maggie and roti canai. The waiter must have had a bug in his central processor.... [infinite GOSUBs!]

Geez. What a day.

na·iveness n.

Synonyms: naive, simple, ingenuous, unsophisticated, natural, unaffected, guileless, artlessThese adjectives mean free from guile, cunning, or sham. Naive sometimes connotes a credulity that impedes effective functioning in a practical world: “this naive simple creature, with his straightforward and friendly eyes so eager to believe appearances” (Arnold Bennett). Simple stresses absence of complexity, artifice, pretentiousness, or dissimulation: “Those of highest worth and breeding are most simple in manner and attire” (Francis Parkman). “Among simple people she had the reputation of being a prodigy of information” (Harriet Beecher Stowe). Ingenuous denotes childlike directness, simplicity, and innocence; it connotes an inability to mask one's feelings: an ingenuous admission of responsibility. Unsophisticated indicates absence of worldliness: the astonishment of unsophisticated tourists at the tall buildings. Natural stresses spontaneity that is the result of freedom from self-consciousness or inhibitions: “When Kavanagh was present, Alice was happy, but embarrassed; Cecelia, joyous and natural” (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow). Unaffected implies sincerity and lack of affectation: “With men he can be rational and unaffected, but when he has ladies to please, every feature works” (Jane Austen). Guileless signifies absence of insidious or treacherous cunning: a guileless, disarming look. Artless stresses absence of plan or purpose and suggests unconcern for or lack of awareness of the reaction produced in others: a child of artless grace and simple goodness.

You know what? If this is truely what naiveness means then I am truely naive. Help me God.

And I need urgent therapy.

Some characters - Redefined

Pixie - Not new. Catwoman's lesbian partner. Sporty and loves interior decoration [does not sound right does it?]

Some characters - Redefined

Et alii - Amazing! Has special ability to mix reality with a HUGE dose of fantasy. Should be the next national comedian! Funny all round. [So was it 6 hours at the traffic lights or 3 ah?]. Bang, you did not have any bitch coz I think you were it. Its not a one to many relationship but many to one - YOU!! [I bet you have to wear pampers now...]

Some characters - Redefined

Merc Lady - New member. Dunno much yet. Someone care to elaborate?

Some characters - Redefined

Zed [pronounced dang-er] Nuff said. Check out his site on http://klblox.blogspot.com//

Some characters - Redefined

Poison Ivy - Oooh. Split personality? [Dun kill me ah?]. So so many concurrent BFs before but now seems to settle with the impossible one. The one that is taken. Oh, how will this pan out? I, for one am looking at a live soap. [put that knife down woman!!... help!!]

Some characters - Redefined

Superwoman - now in Miri trying to find oil and gas men. [Merdeka! - Just kidding dear]

3 Day Birthday Bash - Day 1

Part 2

Ok. Here is where it just got interesting I guess. Mawi and Dragonfly were er... feeling rather... itchy? [Heh]. As soon as we got to Red Box I saw rabbits. Mawi oh Mawi. Dragonfly oh Dragonfly. Must have been the food. Did not realize they ate some pretty strong aphrodisiacs for dinner. I must have that dish next time. What was it you ordered man? It was like an instant turn on dudes! For some reason, there was this "desire" [hahaha] to go back home. Sleepy was the word used I believe. Sleeping means bedding, bedding means having and having means tantric sex. It seemed pretty hard for you guys to stay. I even heard the excuse that I would save 2 ppl entry fees. Geez. You could have come up with a better one dude. I still got your SMS that said that both of you were on. Tell me, what changed your mind? Did Poison have anything to do with this? [Hmmm]. Even worse, I heard a rumour that you ended up in the usual 'Pit'. Oh, well, I guess if Mawi went home or went to the usual hang out club, you would have ended up in that word, in one form or another ha? [ROTFL]

Ok. La, so they left. There were still 8 of us still "on" for some bathroom singing stuff. It was really fun. Thanks guys for the fun. I really enjoyed myself. Opening the bottle certainly helped. So we sang all sorts of songs. For once, Poison did not have the mic glued to her hands... I did instead. Afterall, it was going to be my birthday soon right? So what changed that night that moved away from the norm? [BTW, what happend to chicken man. He had a good voice ma].

I will continue later... [now just looking at designing a new logo for KWSP]. Watch out girls. Dun be shocked!